South Yarra Residence | Carr Design Group

Built in 1929 the property began its life as two duplexes, one of which was originally inhabited by the artist Sunday Reed before her move to Heide Gallery. Positioned in Melbourne’s Domain precinct, the completed residence meshes character filled historic architecture with the crisp detailing of a modern addition to suit a family of five.

From the street, the existing house has been completely restored to fit within the context of the historic neighbourhood. Ornate original details punctuate the interiors providing a striking counterpoint to the modern interiors. The key driver of the project was to unify spaces creating identifiable but relatable resolution between old and new.

A monochromatic palette of cement rendered walls, black timber flooring, polished aluminium and low iron glass reflect the purity of form and lines of modernist inspiration. The client’s gallery like collection of classic 20th century furniture activate the space, while notable art pieces are set on the expansive wall planes at key vistas through the house.

A bold two storey glazed structure was added to the rear west face of the property to bring light into the heart of the home, defining a new circulation core to the building. A large glazed skylight tracks the path of the sun throughout the day, filling the interior with light. Original openings are lined in steel defining thresholds and making the transition from the original to the new. The existing architecture and contemporary addition harmoniously support modern living.